Dispersed Camping in Turtle Mountain Wilderness

The Turtle Mountain Wilderness is a protected area of Mohave Desert that ranges from sprawling shrubs and washes to eroded cliffs and dramatic volcanic plugs. Camping in Turtle Mountain Wilderness is a great way to experience the area. The peaceful natural setting is a relaxing place to set up camp but it also provides a good opportunity to hike and explore the Mopah Range as well as spot wildlife. Wildlife that you may see include bighorn sheep, kangaroo rats, prairie falcons, black-tailed jackrabbits, coyote, lizards, desert tortoise and more.

Camping in Turtle Mountain Wilderness can be as adventurous as you make it. From lengthy, rugged deep in the desert hikes to a chill place to hang out between cities as you’re passing through the area. Find out more about the area as well as what to expect while camping in Turtle Mountain Wilderness

Quick Info: Camping in Turtle Mountain Wilderness

Cost: Free

Ownership: BLM; 14 day limit

Directions: From Parker, head west on the CA-62 for about 18 miles to Vidal Junction. From Vidal Junction, turn right at the gas station onto US 95 N and continue north for another 12.1 miles. Then turn left onto the dirt road and from here you’ll see the sign indicating the Turtle Mountain Wilderness boundary. Follow the dirt road as far as you’d like to find your ideal spot for dispersed camping in Turtle Mountain Wilderness.

Solar: Great

Water: None

Miles From Town: About 12 miles from the gas station in Vidal Junction and about 30 miles from Parker.

Cell Service: Good

Road Conditions: The dirt road through Turtle Mountain Wilderness is in pretty good condition. There are some rocks that make it a bit rough but we towed our trailer a couple miles in and had no problems.

Our Experience Camping in Turtle Mountain Wilderness

After an unplanned turn down a dirt road we were happy to find a great new area to get to know! We followed the dirt road away from the nearby highway for a few miles, taking care to avoid the rocks on the otherwise mild road. As we were driving in, there were numerous dispersed camp sites spaced out along the roadside. Finally we decided on a spot and got all set up for a week or so of camping in Turtle Mountain Wilderness.

When we arrived, we had the whole area to ourselves with an exception to the passing traffic on the highway. And we also had great cell signal because of the cell tower in our line of sight.

As we were camping in Turtle Mountain Wilderness, we couldn’t help but notice the two dramatic peaks in the distance. We found out that they were called Umpah and Mopah Peaks and there is a trailhead that leads to their summits! And as we were getting to know the area, we found that there is also a palm oasis at Mopah Springs
which we ended up making the hike to.

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In addition to those more official adventures, there was plenty of room to roam and wander while we were camping at Turtle Mountain Wilderness! We explored the nearby washes and spent most of our time with our eyes scanning the ground for some really cool looking rocks that were everywhere! We found out that what we were finding was called chalcedony and chalcedony roses. It was impossible to go for a walk without these rocks catching our eye!

Since finding this area, we have camped here on two different occassions. Our first time here, we did not encounter any other campers, hikers or day users during our stay! But our second time camping at Turtle Mountain Wilderness we saw three others camping here throughout our visit. Either way, we found this boondocking spot very peaceful and quiet.

The sunsets were definitely one of the perks of camping at Turtle Mountain Wilderness! Every night the sky seemed to be painted with colors. And later, the stars were great despite the light pollution in the distance to the northeast. Another perk worth noting is that during our stays in both October and February, the weather was great! I don’t think camping here in the summer months would be very enjoyable though.

Thanks for Reading!

We had a great time camping in Turtle Mountain Wilderness! The setting was very peaceful with plenty of room to road as well as several nearby adventures to choose from. And having good cell service was a definite perk allowing us to get work done.

If you’d like to see some other places that we’ve boondocked, check out the links below:

• Dispersed Camping on Kebler Pass Road, CO
• Boondocking and Exploring Near Camp Verde, AZ
• Free Camping at Williams Hill Recreation Area, CA

While living on the road and exploring new places, we’re also working hard creating our hand painted Lost Coast Longboarding longboards! To see our latest lineup, head over to our Lost Coast Longboarding Shop!

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